Associate Dean, School of Nursing in Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences at Mary Baldwin University

Position Description

Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences at Mary Baldwin University invites applications for Associate Dean for the School of Nursing beginning in June 2024.

The Associate Dean of Nursing is a 12-month full-time administrative position that reports directly to the Vice President and Dean for the Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences. The Associate Dean is an active member in the decision-making processes in the College and the School of Nursing. They are responsible for planning, directing, evaluating, and developing undergraduate, graduate, certificate, and continuing education programs within the School of Nursing. The Associate Dean of Nursing will collaborate with other schools within the College in response to evolving issues and provide leadership in developing and achieving school and college-wide strategic initiatives. 

Consistent with the mission and values of the institution, this position requires a commitment to a culture that promotes of equity and inclusion. Therefore, applicants are expected to emphasize equity and inclusion in their interactions with students, staff, faculty, and community at large.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

In collaboration with Murphy Deming and Mary Baldwin administration, faculty, staff, the Associate Dean for the School of Nursing will provide:

Faculty Leadership

• Be present on the Fishersville campus to provide leadership, mentorship, and oversight of the program directors of the undergraduate, graduate, and certificate, and continuing education programs.
• Complete promotion and performance reviews for full-time, part-time, and adjunct faculty within the School of Nursing.
• Make recommendations for hire of faculty and staff to the Vice President and Dean for the college.
• Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, including faculty and staff hiring, student success, and leadership development.
• Provide professional development opportunities and mentoring for chairs/program directors and administrative personnel.
• Collaborate with the senior associate deans/associate deans of the other schools within the college to align curricula and strategic initiatives with the mission and vision of the college.
• In collaboration with Chairs/Program Directors, engage faculty in the development of new curricula or in revision of existing curricula to meet the mission and vision of the school and college.
• Develop, in collaboration with stakeholders, a divisional strategic plan in alignment with the Murphy Deming College and the University strategic plan through leadership and collaboration with leadership.
• Collaborate with the leadership of the faculty organization to enact shared governance that provides a partnership between faculty and administration.
• Support faculty research scholarship and grant writing.

Administrative Leadership

• Responsible for collaboration with Chairs/Program Directors for hiring faculty and making teaching assignments in accordance with the requirements of the College, CCNE Accreditation Standards and the Virginia Board of Nursing.
• Represent the Division of Nursing at professional, state, regional and national meetings.
• Serve as the administrator responsible for enacting and ensuring adherence to college policies and school of nursing policies and procedures.  
• Steer faculty to use enterprise academic systems effectively.
• In collaboration with College VP and Dean, Department Chairs/Program Directors, other nursing administrators, and faculty, develop the operational budgets for the Programs within the School of Nursing.
• Assure alignment of resources (financial and personnel) with strategic plan; monitor expenditures to maintain operations within planned budget.
• Prepare the course offerings list (COL) (a.k.a. – schedule of courses) in collaboration with the department chairs/program directors and faculty to be offered in the fall, spring, summer, and special semesters to meet the demand for students in the school of nursing.
• Collaborate with the senior associate deans/associate deans of the other schools within the college to align and refine course offerings list to meet the needs of all the academic programs within the college.
• Promote enrollment growth in the School through new program development and/or enhancement of existing programs.
• Collaborate with the admissions staff to develop and implement a recruitment strategy that informs marketing, assures faculty involvement, and enhances recruitment pipelines into the programs offered through the School of Nursing.
• Support student recruitment and orientation programming in collaboration with faculty and staff.
• Assure the development and implementation of an enrollment/retention management plan by the Chairs/Program Directors for the programs offered through the School of Nursing.
• Monitor student retention and outcome data in collaboration with the Murphy Deming Student Success Director and Chairs / Program Directors.
• Foster data driven decision-making in program development and assessment.
• Assure attendance at School and College events in accordance with faculty and staff responsibilities.
• Foster collaborative teamwork among the nursing programs and the Center for Simulation.
• Foster collaborative teamwork among constituents of the School of Nursing and other internal constituents across the college.

Accreditation/Policy Leadership

• Demonstrate current knowledge of, and experience in compliance with the Department of Education, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), and Virginia Board of Nursing.
• Collaborate with Department Chairs /Program Directors to assure attainment of specialty accreditation as well as supporting continued accreditation.
• Guide faculty to assure student management in accordance with Americans with Disabilities Act regulations. 
• Develop and revise School of Nursing policies to align and/or compliment college and university policies.
• Assure that faculty and staff are aware of policies and that they are enacted/upheld. 
• Incorporate changes to curricula, courses, and/or policies in the Mary Baldwin Academic Catalog, Nursing Student Handbook and Program Handbooks

Mission, Vision, and Values Leadership

• Demonstrate the values and standards of behavior as well as adheres to the policies, procedures, and safety guidelines of Mary Baldwin University and the Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences.
• Demonstrate a commitment to a culture that promotes of equity and inclusion through their interactions with students, staff, faculty, and community at large.

Advancement Leadership

• Collaborate with the Vice President and Dean and the Office of Advancement to develop an advancement plan for the School of Nursing.
• Collaborate with the Vice President and Dean and the Office of Advancement to develop a culture of fundraising and representing the school and external constituencies. 
• Support the school of nursing and college of health sciences through grant-writing

Required Qualifications

Experience

• Four years of experience as a department head, program director or administrator.
• Four years of experience teaching at the higher education level.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Exceptional communicator, listener and diplomatic leader who can work in a collegial manner with faculty, staff, and other campus and community constituents.
• Experience with data driven program planning and assessment.
• Knowledge of accreditation standards and regulatory requirements 
• Knowledge of shared governance systems and strong background in higher education settings with demonstrated commitment to shared governance and academic freedom, balanced with the ability to move initiatives forward in a collaborative manner.
• Assessment of student learning outcomes and core curriculum requirements
• Knowledge of strategic planning process and plan implementation.
• Knowledge of the role of Nursing Administration and faculty in student recruitment and capacity to communicate academic programs to prospective students and the community.
• Ability to align course offerings with enrollment needs, space availability, student preferences, faculty qualifications, and capacity for content delivery.
• Experience developing and managing budgets within the confines of a fiscal accounting system.
• Knowledge of enterprise systems (Learning Management Systems, Student Management Systems, etc.) in the academic environment
• Manage competing priorities in a time sensitive manner with timeline expectations and accountability.
• Manage relationships with a variety of individuals demonstrating a high level of emotional intelligence.
• Knowledge of human resources management strategies to manage personnel in the School of Nursing
• Knowledge of pedagogical practices that facilitate student engagement and success in learning, such as online learning and curriculum design.
• Able to promote an academic environment of professional growth, accountability, and success. 
• Knowledge of the planning and delivery of academic support services.
• Use of usual and customary equipment used to perform essential functions of the position.

Education

• Master’s degree in nursing 
• Doctoral degree in Nursing or a related field (e.g. higher education administration, health-related doctoral programs)

Preferred Qualifications

Experience

• Previous experience as a School of Nursing Associate Dean/Dean.
• Five years of experience as a department head, program director or administrator.
• Five years of experience teaching at the higher education level.
• Experience with Nursing program development and growth opportunities for BSN, MSN, and DNP degrees including Nurse Practitioner and Advanced Practice Programs.

Skills

• Leadership skills demonstrated through multiple and progressively more responsible leadership positions in higher education. 
• Service as a site visitor for a regional or specialty accreditation organization (e.g., SACSCOC, CCNE, ACEN etc.)

License

• Licensed to practice as a registered nurse in Virginia (or licensed in another state with eligibility to obtain a license in Virginia)

About Mary Baldwin University

Founded in 1842, Mary Baldwin University has a proud legacy of innovating to best serve our students as the world changes.
MBU is a small, coeducational university offering a range of degrees from bachelor to doctoral. We serve a diverse student population on our historic Staunton campus in the heart of downtown Staunton, Virginia, Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences in nearby Fishersville, and online.
MBU offers unique opportunities for our students to become leaders in the classroom, community, workplace, and in their own lives.

About Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences

Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences (MDCHS) was opened in 2014, with the intention of addressing health care workforce needs and the complex health issues of the region. The college accomplishes this through clinically focused professional programs in Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Physician Assistants programs that concentrate on addressing regional health care needs. We believe that community health issues are best solved by professionals who value interprofessional collaboration and thrive in a culture that embraces inclusivity and equitable access to health care. Our vision is to be recognized as the primary regional partner to develop community-oriented interventions for the education of and provision of services to the public, thereby improving health and life outcomes.

Application Process

Mary Baldwin University is committed to promoting a culture of equity and inclusion among students, staff, and faculty. The university does not discriminate on the basis sex, gender, nor does the university discriminate on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, color, age, disability, religion, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits.

All correspondence relating to the position of Associate Dean for the School of Nursing should be directed to:

Barrie Holt
[email protected]
Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences
100 Baldwin Blvd., Fishersville VA 22939

A completed application should include the following:

1. Cover Letter outlining your interest and qualifications for the position including a statement that reflects your commitment towards supporting a culture of Equity and Inclusion Excellence.
2. Updated CV; and
3. Three (3) professional references with contact information, title, institutional affiliation, email address and direct phone numbers. (No references will be contacted without written permission from the candidate.)

The search will remain open until the position is filled.